God’s choice is man!
God in His unique wisdom and awesome power created the universe and everything within it. According to the sequence shown in Zech. 12:1b, "Thus declares Jehovah who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man that is within him” man is the central item in God’s creation. God has definitely shown, through His creation, that man is His choice. This explains why man was made specifically in God’s image and according to God’s likeness in Gen 1:26. Isn’t it wonderful that man is God’s choice?
God’s greatness!
When man creates anything he will ensure that it subjugates itself to him. This shows the smallness of man. God shows His greatness by giving man a free will; allowing man from his own volition to choose Him. God desires man to choose Him but gave man a choice. He gave man two choices represented by the two trees in Gen 2:9, 16-17. The tree of Life, a life dependent on God or the tree of knowledge of good and evil (death), a life independent of God.
Man’s Choice and its results!
Man in Adam did make a choice which has resulted in the hundreds of choices we have today. Ironically, all the vast and even seemingly complicated choices today are a consequence of the first choice, man’s independence from God.
All of the choices man have can be categorized as belonging to one of three groups 1) necessities of life, 2) entertainment, and 3) security. These items have developed into what is called human culture, man created culture without God,Gen 4:16-24.
Concerning necessities, man is occupied with supporting himself in the matters of eating, clothing, and dwelling. As a result of man's choice these items govern man and take priority over nearly every decision made by man. Man under God’s care was not occupied with these matters because God cared for him.
Concerning entertainment, man also is preoccupied with his need to be entertained, to find enjoyment, to make his life worthwhile. Since his independence from God, man’s sense of worth would hinge upon struggles of the necessities of life. Without self entertainment man would have the pervading thought "Is that all there is?"
Another preoccupation of man is his need for security. Man wants to be protected. Where should I live? What’s the safest neighborhood for my children? God was once man’s protection but since his independence from God it seems nowhere is safe.
These are the consequences of the choice. These items had their beginnings in Gen 4:16-24 and are developing even as you read this message.
God’s choice has never changed.
God became a man and as a man paid the payment thereby giving man the opportunity to choose HIM.
God in His wisdom went into action. Motivated by His love, and restricted by His righteousness God Himself became a man, a representative of collective man. He as a man was sinless (pure), and had free will to choose. As the representative of man, this man chose to be dependent upon God and went to the cross and made payment for Adam’s choice, Rom 5:12.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin; in this way death came to all men, Rom 5:15.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Through Adam, the first man, representing all men, man made the wrong choice and all men were condemned to die and live a life independent of God. Through Jesus Christ, the last Adam, God crossed out the first man giving man once again the opportunity to choose a life dependent upon God. God’s choice has never changed.
CHOOSE NOW! DON’T WAIT!
Next year, next month, next week, tomorrow, or not even the next 5 minutes are promised you! Now is the time for salvation!
John 3:18 says: "He who believes into Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed into the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Your neutrality can kill you!
Pray this prayer from your heart to God out loud right NOW!
"Lord Jesus, thank You for the price You paid. Thank you for the life You lived, one dependent upon God. Lord Jesus, You were qualified to cross out the first man with his choice. Lord Jesus, because of it I have the opportunity to choose right now! Lord Jesus, I exercise my free will and I choose God! Lord Jesus, show me what it means to have a life dependent on God. Come in Lord and be my life that I may live because of you."
If you have prayed this prayer, you have made the first right choice of your life. If you would like to join others that are also learning to live a life dependent upon God, you can contact us at 440-282-6959.